UGC, UN Women team up to prevent gender-based violence on campuses

The University Grants Commission (UGC) of Bangladesh has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with UN Women to prevent and respond to sexual and gender-based violence in tertiary education institutions across Bangladesh.

Under the collaboration, UGC and UN Women will work with five public and private universities -- Begum Rokeya University, Rangpur; Shahjalal University of Science and Technology (SUST), Sylhet; Khulna University; Daffodil International University; and American International University-Bangladesh (AIUB) -- to strengthen institutional capacity to prevent and address gender-based violence, including sexual harassment, on campuses.

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Prof Mamun Ahmed, chairman of UGC, and Gitanjali Singh, UN Women Representative in Bangladesh, signed the MoU at the UGC auditorium in Dhaka today, according to a press release.

The UGC chairperson emphasised the importance of collective action to ensure that higher education institutions provide safe and enabling environments for all students and staff.

“True academic excellence can never be achieved in an environment where fear, harassment and discrimination exist. Our universities must remain spaces where students, especially women, can pursue their dreams, explore their potential and express their intellect without the looming shadow of gender-based violence,” he said.

The UN Women representative highlighted the need for strong institutional systems, accountability and coordinated action to prevent violence against women and girls.

“Safe campuses are essential for young women and girls to pursue their education and aspirations. It is our collective responsibility to create safer learning and working environments so women can achieve their full potential without the fear of harassment and violence,” Gitanjali said.

Baiba Zarina, deputy head of delegation and head of the political, economic, trade, press and information section of the European Union delegation, said, “Today’s signing matters because it could help translate standards into practice, strengthen institutions and give students and staff the confidence that their concerns will be heard and addressed. The lessons generated here can improve higher education across the whole of Bangladesh.”

The partnership is being implemented under UN Women’s Ending Sexual and Gender-Based Violence in Public Spaces, Workplaces and Tertiary Educational Settings in Bangladesh (ESGBV) project, funded by the European Union.

Prof Md Khairul Islam, vice-chancellor of SUST; Mohammad Sayful Islam, convenor of the project implementing task team; Prof Taslima Khatun, president of the sexual harassment prevention committee at Khulna University; Md Showkat Ali, vice-chancellor of Begum Rokeya University, Rangpur; Prof Saiful Islam, vice-chancellor of AIUB; Prof MR Kabir, vice-chancellor of Daffodil International University; and Prof Sharifa Sultana, chairperson of the sexual harassment prevention committee, were also present at the signing ceremony.